Happy Monday! This week for our miracle Monday food, we are looking at the article from livestrong.com about the Noni fruit. Check it out–the article is re-blogged below:
Noni is a tropical fruit that offers a number of health benefits. Photo Credit noni 3 image by serge simo from Fotolia.com
Overview
Noni is a tropical fruit that provides a number of health benefits. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center reports that noni has antifungal and antitumor properties, has been suggested for potential use for prevention of atherosclerosis and has a number of other health benefits. You can find noni in juice, fermented juice, pills, powders or capsule forms to make it easy to include in your balanced diet. Before you begin to use noni to treat a health condition, consult your health care provider.
Antioxidant & Anti-inflammatory
Antioxidants are substances that help your body get rid of free radicals that can cause premature aging and even cancer. Noni has been proven to be a powerful antioxidant as well as an anti-inflammatory. Researchers at Université Montpellier in Montpellier, France performed in vitro studies on the chemical compounds in noni juice. While isolating the individual compounds contained in the fruit they discovered compounds that contribute to its strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The research appeared in the September 2010 edition of “Journal of Ethnopharmacology.”
Lowers Cholesterol
High cholesterol may result from either a high-fat diet or heredity, and may cause heart disease or stroke when left untreated.Researchers at Aga Khan University Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan performed animal research on noni and cholesterol levels. They concluded, in the August 2010 issue of “Lipids in Health & Disease,” that in test subjects given noni supplements, overall cholesterol and triglyceride levels went down. The LDL, or “bad” cholesterol, levels were reduced while the HDL, or “good” cholesterol, levels increased.
Stimulates Immune System
Noni may stimulate the immune system. Results of a study conducted at S.N.D.T. Women’s University, India and published in the July 2010 edition of “Pharmaceutical Biology,” demonstrated that noni is an immunostimulant and can be helpful as a part of a healthy diet.
Prevention of Lung Cancer in Smokers
Results of a research study that took place at University of Illinois, Chicago and published in the 2009 edition of “Nutrition & Cancer” evaluated the effects of noni juice given daily to 203 smokers on their potential for getting lung cancer. The study focused on certain DNA markers that tend to lead to cancer formation. Researchers reported that drinking daily noni juice may help reduce the risk of heavy smokers getting lung cancer.
Prevention of Esophageal Cancer
There is also evidence that noni may help prevent cancer of the esophagus. Researchers at Ohio State University performed animal tests to see if giving test subjects noni could help reduce the risk of esophageal cancer. Their results, published in the June 2010 issue of “Pharmaceutical Research,” showed that noni has a protective effect against cancer of the esophagus.
Prevention of Several Other Forms of Cancer
Noni supplements have been shown to help prevent the occurrence of cervical, breast, liver and skin cancers. Researchers at the Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand performed an animal study of noni and its effectiveness in preventing these potentially deadly forms of cancer. They published their findings in the March 2010 edition of “Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine & Public Health,” which concluded that noni is helpful in preventing and treating these forms of cancer.
Protection for the Nervous System
Ischemic stress is a medical term indicating the brain is either blocked from blood circulation for a time, as in a stroke, or that the blood vessels in the brain have constricted so that blood flow is reduced. Either event can cause brain and nerve damage. Researchers at Kobe Gakuin University in Hyogo, Japan, looked at the potential for noni juice, taken daily, to help protect the nerves and brain. They confirmed that noni did protect the nervous system when added as a part of a healthy diet. They published their results in the October 2010 issue of “Journal of Natural Medicines.”
Improves Cognition
Researchers at Nippon Sport Science University Graduate School of Health and Sport Science in Japan evaluated noni as a way to help increase blood flow to the brain and improve cognition. The results, reported in the September 2010 issue of “Physiology & Behavior” showed noni was able to improve cognition in the test subjects.
Reduces High Blood Pressure
Noni was investigated in study published in the January 2010 edition of “BMC Complementary & Alternative Medicine” for its ability to reduce high blood pressure. Working with animal subjects, researchers were able to show evidence that noni helped to relax the walls of the blood vessels and cause them to dilate. They concluded that noni may help reduce high blood pressure.
